"There's great potential for the kind of issues that are taken on, but nothing is resolved, and the biggest questions, of guilt and shame, the gulf of understanding between the first world and the third, remain unengaged." - Jesse Cataldo

Could have used less of the immigration issue and more teacher/pupils dealing with mutual crisis. The child actors are really impressive, and when it finally starts to unravel the problematic feelings of some of the students towards the end, Monsieur Lazhar proves to be a mature, cathartic and highly enjoyable film.

87 ? Wow, slow down there PSI. The internal conflict (or lack thereof) between Bachir and his students kept this reviewer at arms length past the film's opening yet it definitely grew on me much like how they grew accustomed to his character and practices. The whole immigration subplot was poorly handled, resurfacing prior to film's conclusion so as to give weight to the aforementioned struggle after hearing nothing about it for almost an hour. Underwhelming affair that pulls through at the end.

The kids are great. And so is Fellag as Lazhar. This is one of those rare films that doesn't step wrong once. Warmly recommended.